Proverbs 17
1 It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
7 Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth.
Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
